Wrench.



No. 812,008. PATBNTED FEB. 6, 1906. D. BRAXTON. WRENCH.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR.3,1905.

i 7 I In] 511 mentor UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL BRA'XTON, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- THIRD TO CHARLES J. DOBLER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1906.

Application filed March 3. 1905. Serial No. 248,294.

To a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL BRAXTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wrenches, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in wrenches desi ned particularly for use with fruit-jars or t e like.

The di'liiculty usually experienced in properly sealing and unsealing fruit-jars is well known, and various devices for convenience in holding the-jar and manipulating the top or cover therefor have been provided; but all of such devices with which I am familiar are complicated in structure, requiring more or less skill in use, and are not adapted for c011- venient connection with various size jars.

The object of the present invention is to provide a tool of the class described which will be simple and strong in construction and which is readily adapted for use with practicallyall size jars known to the trade.

The invention in its preferred form is illus trated in the accompanying drawings, where- 1n- Figure 1 is a view in elevation, showing my improved tools applied to a jar. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fruit-jar wrenches having in view the purpose of my invention ordinarily comprise two inde endent wrenches, one designed to engage the jar and hold the same against movement, while the other is designed to engage the cap for operating the same.

In the drawings the cap-wrench of my invention comprises a handle 1, the inner end of which is bifurcated at 2. A cap-band 3, preferably of flexible wire and designed in use to encircle the cap 4, is formed at one end with an eye 5 to engage a pin 6, arranged transverse of the bifurcation 2 in the handle, the pin being preferably positioned adjacent one side of the handle, as shown. The opposite end of the band 3 is formed with an eye 7, to which is fixed a short link 8, the opposite end of the link being formed with an eye 9 to engage a stud 10, arranged transverse of the handle bifurcation 2, but to one side of and rearward from the in 6. That portion of I the forward end of t e handle designed in the operation of the wrench to contact with. the

cap is curved or shaped at 11 to conform to the curve of the cap.

The jar-wrench comprises a handle 12, preferably arranged on edge and provided near the end adjacent the jar with a laterallyprojecting stud 13, threaded on its outer end to receive thumb-nut 14. The extreme end of this handle 12 terminates in a point 15, and from this point the end of the handle is curved, as at 16, coincident with the curve of the j ar-body. Afiexible band 17 is secured on one side of the handle by the stud 13, said band projecting forward in contact with the handle surface and bent laterally at the point 15 about parallel with and in the direction of the curved end 16 of the handle. The band is then projected in practically ring shape, with its free end bifurcated at 18 to receive the stud 13. The bifurcation 18 is of -suiiicient length to enable the band 17 to operatively enclrcle jars of varying sizes.

In operation the ar-wrench 1s positloned adjacent the jar and the band 17 passed around the body thereof, preferably by slipping the annular band over the top of the jar, the bifurcated end of the band engaging the stud and being manually moved until the band is comparatively tight about the jar. The thumb-screw 14 is then tightened, securing the band about the jar, as will be evident. The cap-wrench is now inserted in place, and the wrench is ready for operation. Pressure upon the handles 1 and 12 in reverse directions will tighten the band about the jar and cap and permit the removal of the cap or its convenient fixing on the jar.

It will be noted that the structure is simple and comprises few parts.

The curved ends 11 and 16 of the handles 1 and 12, respectively, provide for contact of the handles with the cap and jar in operation without liability of straining the parts or distorting or breaking the cap or jar.

It will be noted that the handle 1 is arranged in a horizontal plane for operation, while the handle 12 is vertical under similar conditions, that the leverage in the operation of the cap-wrench is gained through the link 8 and the arrangement of the pins 6 and 9, and that the leverage of the handle 12 is gained through the point 15 and the curved surface '16 bearing against the jar-body.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- A jar-wrench comprising a handle formed at one end with a point, and with a curved surface projecting from said point, of a band bent laterally at said point, the free end of the band bein bifurcated, and aset-screw carried by the andle to engage the Walls of said bifurcation, said set-screw fixedly securing the opposite end of the band to the han- IO dle whereby to secure the band in adjusted position on the handle.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

DANIEL BRAXTON. l/Vitnesses:

JOHN J. DOBLER, FREDK. F. SCHNEIDER. 

